I just got a last minute call, and I’m running around like a chicken with its head chopped off… sigh… none other than Ms. Elizabeth Perkins is doing a personal appearance, and I have been trying to get her for years… and I’m talking like three to four years.. sigh… She’s the only one I need to finish my Weeds cast signed pieces, and I’m so devastated she will not be on the show next season… sigh… Also on the bill is Kaley Cuoco who I need on my Big Bang Theory diorama and Ms. Kristen Bauer the luscious Pam from True Blood. So, once again off to the races we go…
4:01 p.m. – I just arrived and a couple people are here already. Both need Ms. Perkins so hopefully we can get her tonight. This is a benefit for the Amanda Foundation which is a dog and cat rescue organization. Tonight is the Patterns for Paws event at the Pacific Design Center, and apparently celebrities and their dogs are going to be doing a fashion show and such.

4:19 p.m. – We are waiting, and good lord it’s hot. Arrivals are supposed to start at 5:30 ish so we have time but with events like this you just never know. Sometimes people arrive early, sometimes late; more often than not… they are late!

4:22 p.m. – I have my Weeds cast things, and Megan has a crapload of Weeds stuff as well. Janna is here too, and wants a picture with the Dog Whisperer who is also supposed to be attending.

4:31 p.m. – Still no signs. We are going to the parking structure to check that out. With a large venue like this there are so many entrance and exit points you can easily miss someone. Grumble!

4:49 p.m. – We are having a heat wave in Cali right now, and damn… it’s hot. We have left the parking structure and are moving to the inside of the building to scope out the scene. I grabbed a Pacific Design Center pamphlet to look less conspicuous. Lol… We walked past the check in tables…

4:51 p.m. – We’re on the top floor now. Janna has to use the restroom so I think we’re all going to take a pee break.

4:54 p.m. – The Design center to so fun to walk around, I highly recommend checking it out if you are visiting LA, with or without hoping to run into Elizabeth Perkins. Lol…

5:01 p.m. – Well, we can see where the party is going to be, and decide to wait back in the parking structure… sigh… This could be a wash. Dammit!

5:10 p.m. – So, all these people and their dogs are coming in this way. And let me tell you, these dogs are better groomed than all four of us put together. They are gorgeous! Sigh… that must be the life right, to be groomed, pampered, have someone else pick up your crap, be able to pee anywhere you want, really… if you luck out and get a good home being a dog is the life man… double sigh…

5:14 p.m. – So… now we think we might move back up to the front. We are taking a consensus…

5:19 p.m. – Back up to the front we go… Elizabeth Perkins where are you!

5:22 p.m. – So we are just hanging out… people are starting to arrive, but no one we need as of yet.. . Well, no one famous lol…

5:45 p.m. – It is getting hotter and hotter. We did find a spot in the shade though… ah… shade…

6:01 p.m. – Oh my god no one has arrived yet… We’re starting to think that this is going to be a bust… grumble… Well… even if it is, for Elizabeth Perkins it’s worth it. I’ve been a fan for years, and have never seen her out and about!

6:12 p.m. – The valet in the front has a list of people; Megan is going to check it out…. Okay, so Elizabeth is on that list, so hopefully, she’ll drop right here… Whoo hoo!

6:22 p.m. – Still no one has showed up… sigh… bummer!

6:28 p.m. – Oh wait, some girl from one of the NCIS shows just pulled up… Okay, so we know we’re in the right place…. Whew….

6:39 p.m. – Now, the Dog Whisperer has arrived… Janna wants to run over for a picture but we tell her to wait. I don’t want to be Tophered for the Dog Whisperer.

6:41 p.m. – Tophered as defined by Mike Gets Around – When you’ve waited 8 hours trying to get a picture with Julia Roberts. She sees you, says she will do it on the way out, and means it, you then see Topher Grace and ask for an autograph. He stops and chats for 10 minutes and then you get kicked out for disrupting the flow of the press junket. That’s being Tophered!

6:45 p.m. – No one else has arrived as of yet… Come on Elizabeth!

6:54 p.m. – Sigh… this is starting to suck…

7:01 p.m. – Oh, there’s Bill Maher, and some redheaded girl from I think American idol.

7:07 p.m. – Now, Kristen Bauer is pulling up. Megan wants to run up for a picture and I say no… I want to wait for Elizabeth! Cause if we get Tophered I want to make sure it’s for the person I’m specifically here for! Dammit!
7:10 p.m. – Megan’s mad at me now… Janna just said, “What if we get nothing!” and I’m like; I would rather get nothing, than get thrown off and not get Elizabeth because we went for someone else. It’s a gamble, but I’m the kind of guy who wants to wait for the Royal as opposed to holding the pair of 5’s. Just me I guess…
7:15 p.m. – Kaley just arrived. This is killing me though, I have to say… I really want my Big Bang diorama signed! Sigh…

7:28 p.m. – No Elizabeth. We think we spot her manager and we are trying to overhear her conversation. Sigh…

7:33 p.m. – She said something about, “all you have to do is walk a rescue dog on stage.” Oh God she better come!

7:38 p.m. – Sigh… Some chick from Glee just got here… Come on Elizabeth. Megan wants to talk to the lady we think is her manager… I think that might be a good idea… I dunno… Sigh… times two…

7:45 p.m. – Crap they are calling everyone inside because the show is about to start. Elizabeth didn’t come! Megan is fit to be tied… I’m so bummed… THREE YEARS! Sigh…

8:01 p.m. – Okay, we’re calling this one. Megan said she is going to try and go inside. Janna and I go to the car, and put our stuff in there.

8:10 p.m. – M’Lou and Megan went inside… lol… Janna and I are walking around the long way.

8:12 p.m. – They are doing the fashion show now… Janna and I snuck inside. Megan and M’Lou got pictures with Kristen holding the cutest dog ever. I don’t see Kaley…

8:15 p.m. – The dog whisperer just got some award…

8:21 p.m. – they are having people do a fashion show for dogs… those dogs are so adorable! Lol…

8:24 p.m. – Megan just brought me a tea… mmmmm honey tea….

8:26 p.m. – We just noticed the NCIS girl is leaving so Megan and I are headed to the car to get our stuff ready just in case… Oh crap there’s Kaley about to leave.

8:29 p.m. – Ohhh free dog bowls….
8:31 p.m. – I grab my stuff and M’Lou joins us… I see Kaley and ask is she minds signing an autograph. She says no. Megan has my DVD cover. I pull out the book and open it up. Kaley says, “Ohhh pop up!” Lol… then she shows everyone who’s with her the diorama. It was a promo sent out to Emmy voters. Then I got a pic with Kaley… she is so so so nice!
8:41 p.m. – Yay, at least that was fun… oh wait, there’s Kristen leaving… I get my poster ready, and she is just the nicest person ever. I got her to sign it and personalize it in red paint pen. Then she signed both posters and I got a pic with her. She is one of the sweetest people out there ever! I love her!
8:46 p.m. – So… no Perkins… PERKINSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Picture me fist in the air, like William Shatner! Lol… That’s how I feel. Still it was a lot of fun because everyone was so nice. Next time Perkins! NEXT TIME!

Originally published by Mike Sametz as Mike Gets Around on www.mishmashmagazine.com